Sediment drain bulb valve



y 15, 1952 c. A. BROWN 2,603,236

SEDIMENT DRAIN BULB VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 24, 1946 Patented July 15, 1952 SEDIMENT DRAIN BULB VALVE CONSTRUCTION Clyde A. Brown, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,964

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a sediment drain bulb valve construction of the type which by Way of illustrative example may be used in conjunction with a gasoline tank on an automotive vehicle, such for example as a farm tractor, for preventing sediment in the gasoline tank from reaching the vehicle engine.

An object of the invention is the provision of a valve stem or plunger operable by push pull action for use in drain device of the foregoing character.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a push pull valve and stem arrangement wherein the operative position of the stem is definitely known at all times.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a push pull stem and valve body arrangement wherein the stem and body have notch and detent means for holding the stem in any determined endwise position of adjustment.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide in a valve construction means for use in a sediment bulb and wherein guesswork necessary in the operation of a screw type valve stem for determining its operative position is eliminated.

The invention has for an additional object the provision of a valve body and stem arrangement wherein the operative position of the stem may be predetermined and in which the operator is made aware of the fact whenever the stem has been moved to an operative position.

Another and yet further object of the present invention is to provide a push pull valve stem held in operative position by a snap ring.

In accordance with the general features of theinvention there is provided a sediment receiving housing having a fluid inlet and outlet and push pull plunger means for controlling the flow of fluid through the housing from the inlet andoutlet and manually movable to difierent positions in' accordance with requirements of use of fluid. The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the fol-v lowing description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred form of the invention.

The views of the drawing are as follows: Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view through a sediment drain bulb valve construction of the present invention showing a portion of a gasoline tank to which the valve is attached, and showing the valve stem in the position it occupies for normal operation of the vehicle and with the reserve supply of gasoline closed against entry to the valve structure.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the valve stem to open flow communication between the reserve supply of gasoline in the tank and the valve structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section taken in the plane of line III-III of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the valve structure removed from a tank and showing the stemin the position illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line V'V of Figure 4-.

As shown on the drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates a fragmental portion of the gasoline tank In of a tractor or other automotive vehicle, in the bottom of which is a threaded aperture Ma. The valve body is desig-. nated generally as I l and includes an upstanding section or neck 12 and a lateral body portion l3 in which a chamber I4 is formed in which a valve stem 15 is endwise movable for controlling gasoline flow through the chamber M. The upp r end of the neck I2 is exteriorly threaded at I6 to connect the valve body I I to the tank [0 by threading the neck [2 into the aperture Ill in the tank.

The neck l2, downwardly from. the upper end lation. The upper end of the passageway I8 is formed to receive-a pipe 20, which is the inlet pipe to the chamber M from the interior of the gasoline tank ill, for gasoline flow under normal operating conditions.

The upper end of the neck is provided with a. screen 2! which surrounds the pipe 20 and which prevents the entry of foreign matter into the in- 5 let pipe-20 and passages l1 and I9.

The lower. face of the body H is counterbored at 22, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2. A gasket 22a is inserted in the counterbore and against the gasket a transparent bowl 23 is held.

A cup 24 is operatively connected to a thumb nut 25 which engages a screw 26. The head of the screw is slotted. at 21 to receive the:bight 28 of a spring clamp 29; The screw 26 is manipulated to tighten the bowl 23 against the gasket in leak tight relationship whereupon the springclamp is applied with its bight in the slot in the head of the screw to hold the cup in operative position. The spring clamp 29 is preferably in the form of a wire bent into substantially U.-

shape, with its ends inturned at 30-and"3 I- to engage notches 32 and 33 respectively formed in the top portion of the valve body, II,, as may be observed in Figure 4. The spring'clamp is applied in holding position by spreading the ends. and snapping them over the edge of the body so that their ends 30: and 31 engage. the notches. thus holding the spring clamp and the bowl 23 one erative relation.

A passageway- 34- is formed. inthe valve body to enableflow of gasoline. from the chamber 14 into. the-bowl 23 whenever. the stem. l.5.is.moved' to open. communication between. the. tank and bowl..

Referring. to Figures. 1 and. 2, it .willbe. observed that the chamber [4 isof cylindricalshapefor. the major portion of its'length. Attlie. endlof the. chamber adjacent thepassageway 34. thediameter of the. chamber. is reduced as at-.3.5l. E'or. conveniencethe portion 3.5. of. reduced diameter of the chamber. [4 may sometimesbe herein referred to as the. end bore. Y

Inserted in. the bore. or. chamber M. is. a ring 36 secured inthe. bore between thepassages l2 and I9 and. constitute. avalve seat-under, certain. conditions.

The stem. 1.5. is. preferably of one. piece. construction and formed as shown in Figures 1. and 2. Reference to the stem constructionwill be made, as toleft hand and. right hand, as. the stem isshown in.Figures.1.and 2.

The left hand end of the stemhasan. end. flange 31,. and spaced axially from His-another flange. 38, the flanges. 31 and38. defining acyli-ndrical groove. 39. The diameters of the. flanges. 31 and 38. are the same and aresuch as to pass. through. the. seating ring 38.. Withinthe-groove. 39. is. an. O ring 45' the. outer. diameter of which. under, certain conditions. engages. the inner. surface of thesealing ring. 3 in seelingl, relationship. as is illustrated in. Figure l.

Axially spaced, to. the right, from the flange. 38'is avcylindrical flange 31 the. outer diameter of which is substantially thatof the chamber I4. Spacedto'the right from the'fiange 4| is. another flange 42 of the same diameter but of. less axial extent. Flanges 4| and 42 define between them a cylindrical groove 43' in which is another 0. ring. 4'4. To' the right of flange 42' the stem is formed with another groove 45 having a cylindrical bottom 46' and a sloping wall 41. The other wall. of the groove 45 is formed by the right handface of the flange 42 which, it may be-obser'ved, lies in a plane at right angles to the axis of the stem. This plane surface of the flange '42 constitutes a stop for limiting outward movement of the stern l5, as will be more fully explainedfi The groove 45 is sometimes herein mentioned as an end groove. 7 v I I 3 The 0 rings 46 and 44 may be made of any suitable rubber" like material or resilient syri- 4 thetic plastic and operate in a manner now well known in the trade by those familiar with the use of 0 rings.

The sloping wall 4'! of the groove 45 merges with the cylindrical portion 48 of the stem l5 having an outer diameter the same as that of the. flanges 4|, and 42. Between the cylindrical portion 48 and the next cylindrical portion 50, to the right of the portion 48 is an internal groove jv 49; having inclined walls which make an angle of substantially 90 with each other and each wall making an angle of substantially 45 with respect to'the-axis of the stem. This groove is sometimes herein termed anintermediate or middle groove.

To the right of the cylindrical portion or surface 50: is, another cylindrical surface 5| the outer diameter. of which is the same as surfaces 48 and'50'. The portions 50 and 5| are separatedibya groove 52 having a cylindrical bottom 53 of less diameter than the portions 50 and 5!, aninclined side wall 54- sloping downwardly to the bottom 53- from the cylindrical'surface 50 The outer wall 55 of the groove lies-in a plane which is. at right angles to the axis of the-stem l5-and which wall will hereinafter be sometimes mentioned as a stop. The groove 52 will sometimes be mentioned as an end groove.

Attached to the outer. or right hand end of the stem I5 is-a disc-likeknob 56 heldin place i by a screw 51.

For engagement with the grooves 45, 49 -and- 52; of the stem l5, to hold, it in endwise adjusted position. pressure means. herein illustrated ineclude what is termed a snap ring 58 bent from a.

piece of wire to form two legs 59 and- 60 which.

are provided. Withinwardly bent offsets 6.1; and 62 with the. convex. portions of; the offsets towards each other. Thebight 63 is preferably curved to forma loop as.- showninliigure, whichloopis bent to conform; to the, curvature ofthe outer surface of the lateral body portion I3 of the valve structure, as may be readily observed in. Figures. 3 and 4-.

The lateralportion l3-of the body is slotted at; 64 and 65 to receive the legs 59 and 60 of the snap ring, as may be observed in Figures 3 andA'. The snap ring is applied to the lateral portion I3 by forcing the offset portions 61' and 62 over the stem [5 to bring the bight against the outer,-

surface of the lateral portion l3. When installed in. the manner described, it will be observed; that the convex portions of the ofl sets 6| and; Glengage thestem l5 below its axis. The offset: portions GI and 82- of the legs engage in anyof; the

, grooves 45, 49' or 52 110 positively latch the, stem l5 in adjusted position. Figure 3 shows the manner of engagement of the ofiset portions 61 and 62 with one of the stem grooves.

Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that th chamber orbore 14 is out of communication with the cup 23 except through the passage 34. The body I I has formed in it a collar 66 which is arranged at with respect to the lateral body. portion l3, as may be noted in Figure 4'. A connection (not shown) is made with the collar 66 and a carburetor. Gasoline entry tothecollar is through a small bore 51 openingat one end into the collar and at the other end to the interior ofthe valve structure through the pipe 20. It is to. be understood that, of course, all of the capacity- 5. of the counterbored portion H, the passages I8 and I9, and the chamber I4 as well as the cup 23 are filled with gasoline.

Figure 4 shows the position of the valve stem I5 in normal or running position. That is to say the position of the valve stem when there is gasoline in the tank I above the upper end of the inlet pipe 26.

Whenever the vehicle operator observes collection of sediment in the bowl 23, he closes the passageway 34 by pushing the stem I to the left so that the O ring 40 in the left hand end of the stem will seal against the cylindrical surface of the end bore thus cutting off flow communication between the chamber I4 and the bowl 23. The bowl may then be removed by loosening the thumb nut 25 swinging the spring clamp to one side, removing the bowl 23, emptying its dirty contents and cleaning it and restoring it to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 whereupon the spring clamp 29 is swung back into holding position, whereupon the thumb nut is tightened to hold the bowl in operative position.

The operator then moves the stem I5 to the right, that is to the normal running position shown in Figure 1 to thereby establish flow communication between the interior of the tank If) and the bowl 23 and from it to the carburetor through the collar 66.

In the event the gasoline supply in the tank It falls below the upper limit 68 fiow of gasoline will no longer take place through the inlet tube 20. To establish flow communication between the reserve supply of gasoline, that is the gasoline within the tank between the lines 58 and 69, and the bowl 23, the stem I5 is moved farther to the right, to the position shown in Figure 2 thus opening the passageway I9 to the chamber I4 and thence to the bowl 23.

The arrangement of the 0 rings and 44, on the stem I5, is such that when the stem is moved to close communication between the bowl and the chamber I4, that is when the stem is moved to the left of the position shown in Figure 1, flow of gasoline from the tank will be shut 01f from the passageway 34 and the O ring 44 will lie to the right of the passage I9, thus preventing escape of gasoline out through the chamber I4 and along the stem.

It is apparent that the stem I5 is operated by push pull action.

The utilization of the snap ring 58 and its manner of engagement with any of the grooves 45, 49 or 52 of the stem, is such that the operator can feel engagement of the snap ring with any of the grooves, as he pushes or pulls the stem, thus assuring himself that the stem is in proper operative position for the selected adjustment.

The utilization of the snap ring 58 and the grooves 45, 49 and 52 of the stem, may be said to operate with click action so that the operator can perceive the click as he manipulates the stem.

The face of the flange 42 which is at right angles to the axis of the stem serves as a stop, when the stem I5 is pulled to the right, and this face is brought into engagement with snap ring 59. It would be impossible for the offset or bowed portions 6| and B2 of the snap ring fingers to separate to an extent whereby the stem I5 could be moved to the right beyond its limit of travel as determined by the flange 42 contacting the snap ring. The inclined wall 4'! of the groove 45,,

the drawings, spreads the offset portions 6| and 62 so that the cylindrical surface 48 may be slid, to'the left, through the snap ring. Continued movement of the stem to the left eventually brings the intermediate or middle groove 49 into engagement by the offset portions GI and 62 of the snap ring which engagement causes the ring to engage the groove with snap action. The inciined walls of this groove, make it easy for the stem to be moved in either direction with respect to the snap ring.

When the stem I5 has been moved to the left so that the side wall 54 of the groove 52 abuts the snap ring further movement of the stem to the left will be stopped as the offset portions GI and 62 will not rise over the walls because of the fact that it is in a plane in right angles to the axis of the stem.

A valve construction of the present invention is one which may readily be manufactured at economical costs, as the valve body may be cast or die cast, and the stem may be readily turned without holding the construction thereof to close manufacturing tolerances.

It is to be observed that the push pull stem I5 is one which may be very quickly and readily adjusted to suit conditions existing at any time, with full assurance that the stem will be moved to its proper position of adjustment to not interfere with the gasoline flow from the tank to the carburetor, as might otherwise occur if the stem were a threaded stem and the operator of the vehicle was not sure of the proper adjustment of the threaded stem.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sediment drain bulb valve construction, in combination, a valve body defining a lateral cylindrical valve chamber and an upstanding inlet neck, a pair of inlet tubes mounted in said neck communicating with said lateral cylindrical valve chamber, a plunger-type valve stem characterized by a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves formed in its surface for selectively controlling said inlet tubes and a snap ring seated in said valve body and surrounding said stem selectively engageable with said grooves for looking said stem in desired position.

2. In a sediment drain bulb valve construction for a fluid container, in combination, a valve body characterized by a lateral body portion defining a cylindrical valve chamber and an upstanding neck portion defining a pair of acutely inclined counterbores which intersect said valve chamber at predetermined spaced intersections thereby forming a series of lands, a pair of inlet pipes of varying lengths fitted into said counterbores and adapted to communicate with upper and lower levels of the fluid container, and a plunger-type valve stem receivable in said valve chamber selectively seatable on said lands defined in said valve chamber for controlling fluid flow from said inlet pipes through said valve body.

3. In a sediment drain bulb valve construction, in combination, a valve body characterized by a lateral body portion defining a cylindrical valve chamber and an upstanding inlet neck portion defining a pair of substantially vertical spaced inlet counterbores which intersect and communicate with said valve. chamber at predetermined spaced intervals thereby forming a plurality of spaced lands between said points of" intersection, a meshcstrainer surrounding said inlet neck, an insert type inlet tube receivable in said inlet counterbores for selectively projecting fluid inlet level of one of. said counterbores a predetermined spaced vertical, dimension above the other counterbore inlet level, a plunger-type valve stem characterized by a seating portion defining a series of annular flats and lands cooperating with said inlet counter-bores and said lands of said chamber to selectively control the flow of fluid from said inlet counterbores through said valve chamber and.- further characterized by a body portion defining a plurality of annular grooves formed in its surface, and a resilient snap ring seated in said valve body surrounding body portion of said stem for selective locking engagement; with said grooves. when said plunger valve is manipulated within said chamber:

CLYDE A. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,095,016 McDevitt Apr. 28, 1914 1,459,934 Stiles June 26, 1923 1,548,363 Horst Aug. 4, 1925 1,950,854 Lerch Mar. 13, 1934 2,222,346 Eickstaedt Nov. 19, 1940 2,326,487 Overbeke Aug. 10. 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,487 Great Britain June 11, 1911 274,578 Germany May 25, 1914 361,002 Germany Oct. 10, 1922 670,224 Germany Jan. 14, 1939 

